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    Home » Dinner

    50 Easy School Night Dinners

    Published: Aug 26, 2020 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · Leave a Comment

    50 Easy School Night Dinners Pin Image

    These fuss-free school night dinners are quick and easy to prepare and will take the stress out of cooking on busy weeknights.

    50 Easy School Night Dinners collage

    All of the recipes here take under 30 minutes to prepare, meaning you have more time to help with homework, wash uniforms, and walk the dog (if you don't already have a dog, my advice is don't get a dog, it's like another child)!

    I've split the recipes into handy categories including pasta dishes, meat feasts, meat-free meals, vegan recipes, slow cooker dinners, and instant pot wonders. I guarantee you'll find plenty of inspiration for school nights here!

    Presto Pasta!

    These quick and easy pasta recipes will become firm family favourites!

    Chorizo Mac and Cheese
    A bowl of Chorizo Mac and Cheese with side salad
    Add smoky chorizo to regular mac and cheese, for a Spanish-style twist on this family favourite pasta dish! Made in just 30 minutes!
    Servings => 4 people
    Takes => 30 minutes
    Calories per serving => 881
    Get the recipe
    Easy Pesto Pasta
    Bowl of pesto pasta
    Easy pesto pasta for busy weeknights. Make the homemade pesto in your food processor and store it in the fridge, then you're only minutes away from a delicious bowl of pasta. Bacon sprinkles optional (but yummy).
    Servings => 4 people
    Takes => 22 minutes
    Calories per serving => 853
    Get the recipe
    Chicken, Smoked Bacon & Tomato Pasta
    Bacon Chicken Pasta
    An easy chicken, smoked bacon and tomato pasta recipe using leftover roast chicken.
    Get the recipe
    Creamy Sausage and Mushroom Pasta
    Sausage Pasta
    A creamy sausage and mushroom pasta recipe, which the whole family will love. This is comfort food at it’s best!
    Get the recipe
    Creamy salmon pasta
    Salmon Pasta
    This creamy salmon pasta is so quick to make! The pasta boiling time plus stir through time is all you need to create a delicious and fresh family dinner.
    Get the recipe
    Cheesy Tuna Pasta
    Cheesy Tuna Pasta - the ultimate comforting family friendly pasta dish. Tuna, Cheddar cheese, onion and condensed soup form the perfect pasta sauce!
    Get the recipe
    Creamy Chicken Fajita Pasta
    Frajita Pasta
    This Creamy Chicken Fajita pasta recipe is bound to be a hit with the whole family - tender chunks of chicken with red onion and bell peppers in a creamy tomato sauce with a spicy kick!
    Get the recipe

    Meat Feasts

    A tasty selection of beef, pork, lamb and chicken recipes to try, all with minimal prep time.

    Quick and Easy Korean BBQ Chicken Recipe
    Korean BBQ Chicken Recipe is loaded with flavor from a few simple pantry staples. The zesty and tender chicken is perfect with rice.
    Get the recipe
    Easy Lamb Koftas Recipe with Mint and Yoghurt Dip
    Lamb Koftas
    These easy Lamb Koftas are so quick to make and perfect for the grill or barbecue. This lamb mince recipe is the taste of summer holidays.
    Get the recipe
    Creamy Pork and Dill Meatballs
    Pork Meatballs
    Sweedish meatballs in a delicious creamy sauce. Perfect with rice or mashed potato.
    Get the recipe
    Chicken Fried Rice
    Chicken Fried Rice
    Easy to make and better than takeaway, this Chinese-style Chicken Fried Rice uses leftover roast chicken and cooked rice, to create a mouthwatering meal.
    Servings => 4
    Takes => 25 minutes
    Calories per serving => 368
    Get the recipe
    Baked Cornflake Chicken Nuggets
    cornflake chicken nuggets on baking tray
    Quick and healthy baked cornflake chicken nuggets will take dinner time in your house to the next level. They're crispy, easy to make and most importantly delicious! Loved by kids and adults alike.
    Servings => 4
    Takes => 30 minutes
    Calories per serving => 447
    Get the recipe
    Quick Bolognese
    Quick Bolognese
    A quick Bolognese recipe using ready-made pasta sauce. We all need a speedy pasta meal once in a while, don’t we?!
    Get the recipe
    Easy Chicken Noodle Stir Fry
    Chicken Noodles
    An easy chicken noodle stir fry recipe with lots of fresh veggies in a soy honey sauce. The whole family will love it, even fussy eaters.
    Get the recipe
    Family Favourite Minced Beef Cobbler
    Minced Beef Cobbler
    An oven-baked savoury minced beef cobbler with cheesy scone cobbles.
    Get the recipe

    Meat-Free Dinners

    These recipes are just perfect for Meat Free Monday!

    Cheesy Macaroni
    Mac and Cheese
    An indulgent cheesy macaroni recipe using leftover cheeses in your fridge. The ultimate in comfort food.
    Get the recipe
    Scone Pizza
    Scone Pizza
    Want a homemade pizza but you’ve run out of bread flour and yeast? Not a problem with this scone pizza, which utilises a scone base made with se…
    Get the recipe
    Simple Pasta with Peas
    Pasta with peas is a simple 1-pot 10-minute midweek dinner that’s bursting with fresh taste! It’s a quick and tasty Italian dish (pasta e piselli).
    Get the recipe
    Sticky Quorn Sausage Tray Bake
    Quorn Traybake
    A sticky balsamic, mustard, and honey Quorn sausage traybake with sweet butternut squash, red onion, apple, and crumbled feta.
    Get the recipe
    Creamy Tortellini Soup
    Creamy Vegetable Tortellini Soup
    A creamy tortellini soup made with spinach and ricotta tortellini, fresh spinach leaves, peas and carrots in a creamy cheesy soup.
    Get the recipe
    Easy & Authentic Chana Masala (Chickpea Curry)
    Chana Masala
    This easy chana masala or chole is authentic and ready in 30 minutes. It’s a great weeknight meal to start your Indian cooking!
    Get the recipe
    Delicious One-Pot Red Lentil Bolognese
    lentil Bolognese
    A gorgeously rich, hearty spaghetti bolognese sauce made with brown lentils and a splash of red wine for extra flavour.
    Get the recipe

    Vegan Meals

    All of the recipes in this section are 100% vegan and super tasty!

    Easy Vegan Tomato & Basil Soup
    Tomato Soup
    This super easy and insanely delicious Vegan Tomato and Basil soup is healthy comfort food at its best. Beginner-friendly!
    Get the recipe
    Peanut Tofu Satay Curry
    This Peanut Tofu Satay Curry is amazingly easy to make, super satisfying, and packed full of flavour. Undetectably vegan and gluten-free.
    Get the recipe
    Vegan White Chili
    Vegan White Chilli
    Healthy vegan white bean chili is hearty, filling and quick to prepare. This white chili is a great alternative to the classic chili con carne.
    Get the recipe
    Easy Vegan Egg Fried Rice with Tofu, Peas and Beans
    Vegan Fried Rice
    A super easy vegan egg fried rice recipe using ready marinated tofu pieces served up with crunchy stir fried veg in a zingy ginger and garlic sauce.
    Get the recipe
    Vegan Pita Pizza
    Vegan pita pizzas are kid-friendly & ready in 30 minutes! Also great to prep ahead of time, freeze, and bake straight from the freezer!
    Get the recipe
    Vegan Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe
    Easy vegan pineapple fried rice with perfectly stir fried veggies, a simple sweet and savory tamari sauce and tons of flavor. Healthy, filling, gluten free!
    Get the recipe
    Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto
    Vegan Squash Risotto
    This vegan butternut squash risotto is the perfect plant-based dinner or lunch you can get on the table in a hurry. And you don’t have to stir this one!
    Get the recipe
    Italian Vegan Stuffed Peppers
    Vegan Stuffed Peppers
    Easy Recipe for Vegan Stuffed Peppers. Filled with tasty Italian flavors, plus protein rich quinoa and lentils for a hearty and delicious lunch, dinner or meal prep idea.
    Get the recipe
    Vegan Pasta Bolognese with Lentils
    Vegan Bolognese
    Vegan Pasta Bolognese with Lentils is a family favorite, and the ultimate comfort food. Rich, creamy sauce packed with protein—all the ingredients you’ll need come straight from your pantry!
    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Delights

    I love my slow cooker (a lot!), and often set it going first thing in the morning, so that when we get in from after school clubs there is a hot and filling meal ready to be served.

    Slow Cooker Pulled Beef
    Slow Cooker Pulled Beef
    This tender and succulent slow cooker pulled beef is a must-try! The beef brisket benefits from long slow cooking in a BBQ style sauce.
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker Macaroni Cheese
    Slow Cooker Macaroni Cheese
    This slow cooker macaroni cheese is so easy to make. Dry macaroni (that’s right, no need to pre-cook the pasta!), milk, cheeses and a few other ingredients and out comes a delicious mac and cheese.
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Pasta
    Slow Cooker Pasta with Tuscan Chicken is a flavorful meal your family will love! Crockpot pasta is an easy to make weeknight dinner.
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Chicken
    Sweet and Sour Chicken
    Slow cooked tender chicken strips, vegetables and pineapple chunks in an easy homemade sweet and sour sauce. The kids will love it!
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker Chicken Korma
    Slow Cooker Korma
    An easy slow cooker (crock-pot) chicken korma. Mild enough for the whole family to enjoy.
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara
    Chicken Marinara
    A comforting and delicious Italian classic tomato and herb sauce slow cooked with chicken and black olives and served with pasta.
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker Sausage Hotpot
    Sausage Hotpot
    This Slow Cooker Sausage Hotpot will be a guaranteed hit with kids. Prepare in the morning and have a delicious, family friendly meal ready for dinner.
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker Beef Goulash
    Beef Goulash
    A classic Hungarian dish, this slow cooker beef goulash consists of tender chunks of beef in a rich tomato and paprika sauce, perfect for the cooler months!
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken
    Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
    A Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken recipe. The pulled chicken is best served in rolls, with coleslaw and rocket, or with jacket potatoes.
    Get the recipe
    One Pot Beef Keema (slow cooker)
    Beef Keema
    A Spicy One Pot Minced Beef Keema, which can be made in the slow cooker or oven baked if you prefer. Perfect with Rice and Naan Bread.
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker Vegetarian Curry
    Vegetable Curry
    Vegetable Masala - This easy vegan friendly dish is cooked in a slow cooker with Indian spices, and finished with coconut milk or cow milk.
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker Pork Ragu
    Pork Ragu
    Slow Cooker Pork Ragu is shredded pork shoulder sits in a rich tomato sauce that is perfect over pasta or polenta for the perfect Italian comfort dinner.
    Get the recipe
    Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
    Chicken Burger
    This Slow Cooker Crack Chicken recipe is so easy to make. All you have to do is dump in the 7 ingredients and set the timer. Then you will have a creamy and flavorful easy weeknight dinner. This pulled chicken sandwich perfect dinner idea for a busy family on the […]
    Get the recipe
    Easy Slow Cooker Pork Chops
    Slow cooker pork chops
    Easy slow cooker pork chops cooked in a delicious honey garlic sauce. Only 5 main ingredients so this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights!
    Servings => 4 people
    Takes => 4 hours 5 minutes
    Calories per serving => 338
    Get the recipe

    Pressure Cooker/Instant Pot

    Super fast instant pot recipes to try!

    30 Minute Instant Pot Butter Chicken
    Skip the take-out and make this rich and creamy restaurant-quality Butter Chicken! It’s ready in 30 minutes and will soon become your next favorite meal!
    Get the recipe
    Instant Pot Pesto Pasta
    Pesto Pasta
    Here’s a fresh summer recipe for pasta lovers.
    Get the recipe
    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Root Vegetables
    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin, ready in less than 30 min. Use a marinated Smithfield Rotisserie Tenderloin root veggies to make an easy flavorful dinner.
    Get the recipe
    Instant Pot Tuna Casserole
    Tuna Casserole
    30-minute version of classic tuna casserole made with egg noodles, vegetables, tuna, and cheese. Instant Pot beginners will LOVE this easy tuna noodle casserole!
    Get the recipe
    Instant Pot Gnocchi + Kale Soup
    Vegetable Gnocchi Soup
    This creamy vegetable gnocchi soup is made with cauliflower gnocchi (or traditional potato gnocchi) and kale, and is a quick and easy Instant Pot meal! (Stovetop directions included.)
    Get the recipe
    50 Easy School Night Dinners Pin Image

    Don't want to miss a thing?

    Grab your free pantry checklist!

    More Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Easy Leftover Chicken Curry Recipe
    • Easy Spicy Chicken Pizza Recipe
    • Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Beef Recipe
    • Slow Cooker Beef Keema Curry Recipe

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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